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27/05/2004
New initiative launched to cut trolley waiting lists
Health service managers from across Northern Ireland today attended a workshop on the development of a regional initiative to reduce trolley waits.
The initiative aims to deliver improvements to the way hospitals admit emergency patients, how those patients move through the hospital system and how they are discharged.
Welcoming today's event, the Minister said: “It is unacceptable that some patients have to wait on trolleys before being admitted to hospital. Tackling the trolley waits issue is one of my top priorities and I very much welcome today’s workshop. I believe the regional approach we are taking forward will bring about real improvements for patients.”
Reducing the number of patients waiting on trolleys is a key priority for the department. The Minister added: “For the first time I have set a target for all A&E departments to reduce trolley waits, by next March.
"The target aims to reduce by a third the number of patients waiting more than two hours for a decision to admit to admission to a ward.
"Boards and trusts will be required to submit proposals to streamline processes relating to emergency patient flows to the department by 31 august 2004.”
In March, Angela Smith revealed that waiting lists had fallen for the fifth consecutive quarter. According to the figures, hospital inpatient and day case waiting lists have decreased by more than 5,000 over the past 12 months.
This new initiative will be overseen and directed by a regional steering group comprising people with considerable experience in this area from across the service. The first meeting of this group was held on April 29.
(MB)
The initiative aims to deliver improvements to the way hospitals admit emergency patients, how those patients move through the hospital system and how they are discharged.
Welcoming today's event, the Minister said: “It is unacceptable that some patients have to wait on trolleys before being admitted to hospital. Tackling the trolley waits issue is one of my top priorities and I very much welcome today’s workshop. I believe the regional approach we are taking forward will bring about real improvements for patients.”
Reducing the number of patients waiting on trolleys is a key priority for the department. The Minister added: “For the first time I have set a target for all A&E departments to reduce trolley waits, by next March.
"The target aims to reduce by a third the number of patients waiting more than two hours for a decision to admit to admission to a ward.
"Boards and trusts will be required to submit proposals to streamline processes relating to emergency patient flows to the department by 31 august 2004.”
In March, Angela Smith revealed that waiting lists had fallen for the fifth consecutive quarter. According to the figures, hospital inpatient and day case waiting lists have decreased by more than 5,000 over the past 12 months.
This new initiative will be overseen and directed by a regional steering group comprising people with considerable experience in this area from across the service. The first meeting of this group was held on April 29.
(MB)
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